While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Chapter 415 The Heavenly Palace Affairs Are Over

The aura of the Nine Corpse Heavenly Demon Emperor completely dissipated into the world. In an instant, countless complex gazes converged on the frozen figure.

Lu Yuan!

Chen Xiao had previously stated that he would make this traitor witness the fall of the Demon Emperor, whom he had risked betraying his own kind to save, before ending his life.

At this moment, it is clearly time for reckoning.

The Heavenly Emperor turned his head slightly, looking at Mandala beside him, whose small hand was tightly holding his large hand. He then gently stroked the top of her head with his other hand, the touch as soft as when he had caressed that nearly withered flower, full of tenderness and expectation.

Immediately, he raised his hand, and the Heavenly Emperor Sword, which had been standing quietly not far away, suddenly emitted a clear and melodious sword cry, broke free from the earth's restraints, and transformed into a stream of light that flew into the Heavenly Emperor's palm.

The Heavenly Emperor gripped his sword, his gaze lingering on the blade for a long time, as if looking into the eyes of an old friend who had been with him for a thousand years, before finally handing the Heavenly Emperor Sword to Mandala.

"Go! This beast deserted in battle back then, which was already disloyal. He was even bewitched by the Demon Emperor and tried to help him break the seal. His crimes are unforgivable. Today, you will kill him for your brother and settle this grudge."

Mandala received the Heavenly Emperor Sword with both hands. The coldness of the sword emanated from her palms, and her eyes instantly hardened, like an executioner about to carry out a divine mandate. She walked steadily towards Lu Yuan step by step.

Within the ice, Lu Yuan's eyes churned with undisguised fear. His gaze was fixed on the Heavenly Emperor and Mandala, filled with pleading, as if he were desperately repenting for his mistakes.

Unfortunately, this remorse ultimately failed to move anyone.

The Heavenly Emperor remained calm, showing no pity whatsoever.

Mandala's eyes were even colder, her killing intent undiminished.

"You don't know you're wrong, you just know you're going to die!"

The moment the cold words fell, Mandala unleashed the Heavenly Emperor Sword in her hand with a fierce strike.

In an instant, a dazzling, crystal-like sword light tore through the sky, its sharp sword energy crisscrossing and piercing through heaven and earth, instantly penetrating the amber-like ice seal and pinning Lu Yuan firmly to the ground.

The thick ice melted away silently, and then the powerful sword energy erupted. Before Lu Yuan could utter a single word of begging for mercy, his body was shattered by the sword energy, and not even a trace of his soul remained. He was completely annihilated into the world.

Having personally killed Lu Yuan, Mandala felt all the pent-up frustration in her heart dissipate, and her whole aura became much lighter.

She turned back to the Heavenly Emperor and Chen Xiao, raising her hand to return the Heavenly Emperor Sword.

However, the Heavenly Emperor waved his hand and did not take it. He simply patted her head again with a gentle smile.

"When the ancient Heavenly Palace was destroyed, your biggest worry was you. Now that I see you are capable of standing on your own, have made many close friends, and have even found a member of your own clan, I can finally rest easy."

"Just now, I had a brief discussion with the True Emperor. From now on, this Ancient Heavenly Palace will be permanently open to cultivators below the Earthly Sovereign level. If younger generations wish to obtain my inheritance, this will be the first hurdle they need to overcome."

The Heavenly Emperor's gaze swept over everyone present, his voice gentle yet clearly audible, before finally settling back on Mandala.

"And you are the second hurdle they must overcome!"

"If there is a junior with outstanding talent and decent character who can obtain the few things I left behind, please take a look and see if you like them. If you think they are to your liking, take them to the True Emperor's Zixiao Palace. At that time, I will be there to formally pass on the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones and the Heavenly Emperor Sword to them, and we will be able to meet again."

The Heavenly Emperor spoke these words without any concealment, and everyone present could hear them clearly.

For a moment, the way everyone looked at the mandala changed.

The Heavenly Emperor's arrangement undoubtedly provided Mandala with the strongest protective shield!

From now on, even without Chen Xiao's connections, Mandala will be safe and sound in the Great Thousand Worlds.

After all, no one can bypass her if they want to obtain supreme treasures like the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones and the Heavenly Emperor Sword.

If the mandala were to encounter danger, the powerful beings of the vast world, as long as they were unwilling to see such an unparalleled divine power lost, would never sit idly by.

The Great Thousand Palace, in particular, will do its utmost to protect you!

After all, if the technique of "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones" were lost, it would be a huge loss to the entire world.

Mandala naturally understood the Heavenly Emperor's good intentions, and even though she tried her best to hold back, two lines of clear tears still uncontrollably slid down her cheeks.

She and the Heavenly Emperor had no blood ties, yet their affection was no less than that between any father and daughter, or brother and sister.

In comparison, Lu Yuan, who betrayed his own kind, was truly just a nobody by the roadside—

Not wanting the Heavenly Emperor to worry, Mandala raised her hand to wipe away her tears, held the Heavenly Emperor Sword, turned to Chen Xiao, and presented the sword with both hands.

Seeing this, the Heavenly Emperor nodded in acknowledgment: "Young friend, thank you for your help this time. Let's have a good chat again next time."

At this moment, the Heavenly Emperor was nothing more than a remnant imprint, with negligible power. If he hadn't not used any of his power this time, and given Chen Xiao's special circumstances, it would have been impossible for him to be sealed away.

However, even so, this state cannot be maintained for too long.

Chen Xiao cupped his hands slightly and said, "Senior, you flatter me."

The Heavenly Emperor smiled at him, then gave Mandala a deep look before transforming into a soft ray of light and slowly merging into the Heavenly Emperor Sword, all under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Only then did Chen Xiao take the Heavenly Emperor Sword from Mandala's hand, a tiny mark shooting out from between his brows and landing on the sword.

In an instant, a faint spiritual light enveloped the crystal-like Heavenly Emperor Sword, intertwining reality and illusion, as if it had transformed into a special existence that existed between the real and the unreal.

After doing all this, Chen Xiao put the Heavenly Emperor Sword into his storage ring.

Chen Xiao had only two purposes in mind when he facilitated the opening of the ancient Heavenly Palace.

Firstly, it was to witness firsthand the profound mystery of the One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones.

When Mandala killed Lu Yuan, the Heavenly Emperor had already proposed to pass on this unparalleled divine power to him.

However, Chen Xiao declined.

For him, there was no need for the Heavenly Emperor to personally teach him; now that he was in charge of the Heavenly Emperor's Sword, he had his own way of uncovering its secrets.

In this way, one can achieve one's wish without disrupting the Heavenly Emperor's legacy, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Secondly, it was also a convenient way to eliminate the hidden danger of the Nine Corpse Heavenly Demon Emperor.

As for the side effects such as public displays of power and enhanced reputation—

It's not worth mentioning!

Sheathing the Heavenly Emperor Sword, Chen Xiao looked up at the many top experts present, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Today's matter has been settled. Please return. You may spread what the Heavenly Emperor just said. The Ancient Heavenly Palace is relatively safe now. Anyone interested in the Heavenly Emperor's inheritance is welcome to come and try."

The tone shifted abruptly, Chen Xiao's expression turning serious, his voice carrying an undeniable authority: "However, there is one rule: those with cultivation levels of Earthly Sovereign or higher are strictly forbidden from entering the Ancient Heavenly Palace! Otherwise, don't blame me and Mandala for showing no mercy!"

The reason he chose to take the Heavenly Emperor Sword was not because he coveted this treasure, but mainly to prevent those powerful figures at the Earthly Sovereign and Heavenly Sovereign levels from doing something crazy because of it.

After all, the allure of One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones and the Heavenly Emperor Sword is too great. If left unchecked, even Heavenly Sovereigns would likely be drawn to it, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the entire Tianluo Continent would be crippled once a struggle for it begins.

Now, he is in charge of both the Heavenly Emperor Sword and the Heavenly Emperor Seal. The ancient Heavenly Palace has become much less attractive to those above the Earthly Sovereign level. If anyone still insists on violating the rules, they are truly courting death!

As for the Heavenly Emperor's inheritance, the Heavenly Emperor has already made it clear that it is relatively fair and just. As long as one does not provoke the Mandala, any cultivator or force below the Earthly Sovereign level can compete based on their own abilities.

As soon as Chen Xiao finished speaking, ripples appeared in the space between heaven and earth, and spatial passages slowly appeared beside the many powerful figures.

The group of powerful figures looked at each other in bewilderment. They had come here for the Heavenly Emperor's inheritance and the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, but now that the Heavenly Emperor had spoken first and Chen Xiao had also made his statement, there was clearly no need for them to stay any longer.

The only saving grace is that they can still allow their subordinates, disciples, and children to compete for the inheritance through a "challenge" system.

Thinking of this, the group of powerful figures could only sigh helplessly, bowed to Chen Xiao, and then turned and stepped into the spatial passage, their figures quickly disappearing from the spot.

Before long, the faint light of the spatial passage completely dissipated, and the hustle and bustle in the Heavenly Emperor's Mausoleum suddenly faded away, leaving only Chen Xiao, Mandala, Qing Yanjing and Bodhi standing quietly to the side, and Chen Xiao and his group.

As Chen Xiao approached slowly with Mandala, Qing Yanjing, Bodhi, Chen Xiao, and the three emperors of the Great Luo Heaven Domain were either very close to Chen Xiao or knew the inside story. Therefore, they were able to maintain their composure.

However, the few friends Chen Xiaoxin had made with him were shocked. Their faces tightened instantly, and they quickly bowed and saluted, not daring to even raise their eyes.

The Supreme Being of Heaven! This is a terrifying being whom even their fathers treated with utmost respect and dared not show the slightest negligence.

In particular, they witnessed firsthand how easily the Nine Corpse Heavenly Demon Emperor was defeated by them, which deepened their awe.

At this moment, facing Chen Xiao at such close range was an unimaginable sense of pressure for them, as if they were facing an insurmountable mountain.

However, this extremely tense atmosphere did not last long before it was completely broken by Chen Xiao's clear and loud shout.

"Dad!"

The cry of "Dad!" instantly shattered the solemn atmosphere of the cemetery, causing the young people to stiffen and raise their heads in a daze.

Chen Xiao turned back with a hint of apology and said in a low voice, "I'll explain later."

He didn't actually want to hide his identity, but his father's reputation was too great, and as his children, they would inevitably be affected by it when they went out. He didn't want to be labeled wherever he went.

The young people nodded blankly, but they weren't stupid; they quickly figured out the reason.

Watching the little ones' antics, Chen Xiao's previous imposing presence in front of many powerful figures vanished, leaving only the gentle warmth of a father.

He raised his hand in a gesture of support, and an invisible force lifted the bowing boys and girls. His voice was gentle and warm, like the clinking of jade stones: "No need for formalities. Since you are Xiao'er's friends, you can just call me Uncle."

Sensing that Chen Xiao seemed approachable, the group of children relaxed considerably and nodded in greeting, addressing him as their uncle.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and introductions, the initial awkwardness between everyone gradually dissipated, and the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

Chen Xiao's gaze finally fell on Chen Xiao, his tone calm but with a hint of admonition: "From now on, this ancient heavenly palace will be the testing ground for you young people. After leaving this place, your Aunt Jing, Uncle Bodhi, and I will set off to return to the Purple Cloud Continent."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Chen Xiao and the few still somewhat reserved young men and women, before continuing, "You are welcome to stay here for as long as possible, to gain experience and seek out some opportunities."

Hearing that Chen Xiao didn't intend to take him away immediately, Chen Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, then chuckled and assured him, "Don't worry, Dad, I'll definitely be back before Mom and the others come up!"

Chen Xiao nodded and didn't say anything more.

This kid is heavily influenced by Zi Yan; he's incredibly clever and doesn't require much attention.

Immediately, he raised his hand and naturally took Qing Yanjing's hand, and a spatial passage appeared in front of him.

The moment their fingertips touched, a barely perceptible blush swept across Qingyan's pretty face.

Although they had done even more intimate things in private, she still felt a little shy about being so close to the younger generation.

However, she did not break free, but simply lowered her eyes and let Chen Xiao lead her into the spatial passage.

Bodhi smiled at Chen Xiao, who was somewhat dumbfounded, and followed closely behind Mandala.

Only after the four people had left did the chattering of voices begin to rise within the Heavenly Emperor's Mausoleum.

Outside the ancient celestial palace, above the churning sea of ​​clouds in the void, Chen Xiao and his companions stepped out of the passage, their expressions subtly shifting.

Looking around, eight powerful figures stood in the surrounding void, none other than the Earthly Sovereigns they had met once before in the Heavenly Emperor's Mausoleum.

They seemed to have been waiting for Chen Xiao there. Upon seeing Chen Xiao and his companions appear, the eight of them immediately withdrew their imposing aura and respectfully approached them.

"Why haven't you left yet?" Chen Xiao's gaze was indifferent, showing little concern.

The leader was an old man with the strength of a high-ranking Earthly Sovereign, while the other seven were all of lower rank.

Upon approaching Chen Xiao, the eight men bowed even more deeply than before. The elder at the head of the group spoke with a barely perceptible tremor and earnestness in his voice, daring not to mince words, and said directly, "Reporting to the True Emperor, we have waited here specifically to seek refuge under your command. We humbly request that you accept us!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the other seven Earthly Sovereigns bowed in unison and said, "We humbly request the True Emperor to take us in!"

Eight figures bowed their heads in unison above the sea of ​​clouds; their resoluteness and respect were not the result of a momentary impulse.

Of these eight people, three were from the Heavenly Emperor's Mausoleum and were at the forefront at the time, while the other three were targeted by Lu Yuan's attack.

If Chen Xiao hadn't shown up, they would have been dead for sure!

The remaining two are also quite special cases. They have never joined any top forces and have very few ties, so they can be considered as independent cultivators.

As the saying goes, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. They had long heard of Chen Xiao's reputation, and today they witnessed him kill the Nine Corpse Heavenly Demon Emperor. His strength is beyond question.

Therefore, for these Earthly Sovereigns, if they have the idea of ​​joining a certain force, Chen Xiao's Purple Cloud Palace is definitely a good choice!

Their eyes all fell on Chen Xiao, filled with anticipation and awe.

Chen Xiao remained calm in response. He and the Old Dragon Emperor had previously integrated the Purple Cloud Continent, and already had dozens of Earthly Sovereign powerhouses under their command.

Therefore, whether there are eight more or eight fewer, there is actually not much difference.

His calm eyes slowly swept over the eight Earthly Sovereigns, his voice light yet carrying a penetrating power: "Do you know what it means to join my ranks? And what position does the Purple Cloud Continent hold in the Great Thousand Worlds?"

Upon hearing this, the old man nodded earnestly and replied, "We understand the True Emperor's righteousness, and from now on we will respect the True Emperor's command, work together wholeheartedly, and contribute to the Great Thousand World. If we have any disloyal intentions, we are willing to accept punishment, and even if our souls are scattered, we will have no regrets!"

"We are willing to swear a blood oath!" The other seven Earthly Sovereigns echoed in unison, their spiritual power surging as if they were about to swear a blood oath on the spot.

Chen Xiao raised his hand to stop them and said calmly, "There's no need for that. In that case, you can rest and head to Zixiao Palace."

In this vast world, there is no such thing as a vow made in accordance with the will of Heaven.

The so-called blood oath might have some influence on people with integrity, but if it is broken, it will make the Heavenly Tribulation even more difficult to overcome.

But for those who have no moral bottom line, so-called blood oaths are utterly worthless.

Upon hearing this, the eight Earthly Sovereigns were overjoyed and quickly bowed, replying, "We obey! Thank you for taking us in, True Emperor!"

Chen Xiao nodded slightly, said no more, and with a wave of his hand, eight crystal-clear jade talismans appeared out of thin air and flew towards the eight Earthly Sovereigns.

Without lingering any longer, he left immediately.